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techUK welcomes industry-led Taskforce to support young people and their families affected by cyberbullying

The Duke of Cambridge has asked the new Royal Foundation Taskforce on the Prevention of Cyberbullying to work together over the next year to harness technology and make it easier for children and their parents to get help if they experience bullying online, across all digital platforms.

The Founding Members are senior representatives from leading technology companies including Google, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, BT, EE, Sky, BBC, TalkTalk, Telefonica, Virgin Media, and Vodafone, alongside Sir Tim and Lady Rosemary Berners-Lee, Baroness Kidron, and chaired by entrepreneur Brent Hoberman. They will work with experts from the Anti-Bullying Alliance, NSPCC, Internet Matters, Diana Award and UK Council for Child Internet Safety. The taskforce will also be supported by a panel of young people aged 11-15, to ensure it remains engaged in current online trends.

In his recent speech delivered at the London 2016 Founders Forum on Thursday 16 June, the Duke of Cambridge stated that it is his belief that “innovation in technology is a force for good, and that these advancements can do a lot more good than the harm that is often talked about.” With the formation of the Taskforce, members “will be creating an enduring model for how the Internet should progress into the next stage of its development” which will create an “enduring, positive shift in our culture that could not have happened without technological advancement.”

Welcoming this announcement, Skye MacLeod, techUK’s Programme Managerfor child online safety said:

“The creation of the industry-led Royal Foundation Taskforce on the Prevention of Cyberbullying shows that the tech industry is serious about tackling cyberbullying. The online world offers opportunities for people to learn, create and communicate however it also carries with it some challenges. UK tech industry has a track record of working together with government, law enforcement, educators, and wider players to enable the UK to take a global leadership role in addressing some of the most challenging issues of the internet age. We look forward to engaging in the ongoing dialogue and policy solutions that will keep our children safer online.”

techUK CEO Julian David recently hailed the UK model and called for all tech companies to be vigilant to challenges and opportunities raised by new products and services – and why the tech industry must continue to help make the internet safer for our kids.

techUK’s upcoming event “Child Safety Online: A Practical Guide” takes place on 7 July 2016. Discuss with Twitter, SuperAwesome, and Silent Secret their work in the area of child online safety and how they foresee the UKCCIS guide for providers of social media and interactive services in helping ingrain online child safety into web and mobile businesses.

Further information on techUK's activities regarding Child Online Safety is available.